Who is OSTON?

Written by Kole Kemple

26-year-old singer-songwriter, Austin Wolfe, OSTON, sits down to talk about the release of her new EP, Melancholia, along with the creative process and stories behind her music that make her projects authentically her. 

“I’m just a fucking person. I talk way too much, and when people listen to the songs I write they know exactly who I am, and that’s how I want to stay.” 

For most people, reviewing what makes them them is a process that takes a lifetime and then some, but for 24-year-old singer-songwriter on the rise, OSTON, her brand is clear—it is authentically her. Laced through her lyrics, stage presence, and overall artistry, OSTON’s unapologetic display of her life and beliefs is exactly what the music industry needs more of today.

Fresh off the release of her most recent EP, Melancolia, the “Lie About You” singer is ready to share the inside of her mind with the world. Since releasing her debut project, Sitting At the Kids Table, in 2019, OSTON’s clear growth as an artist and person offers listeners the opportunity to get to know her through a raw medium that cohesively invests listeners in the most recent chapter of her story. 

“I can’t explain how much I feel I’ve grown since first putting out music. I don’t really care what genre I’m in anymore, I just want to make music that I would want to listen to. It really took me years, but I feel like I'm finally at this place where I understand my creative authenticity and vision, and I feel like I’m creating this really representative piece of where I’m at in my life.”

Taking her own advice, Melancholia is OSTON’s most sonically diverse project to date. Exploring emotions of insecurity, anxiety that comes with aging, anger with past relationships, and self-acceptance, mixed in with sundried production techniques and vocal arrangements, Melancholia feels like taking a hard look in the mirror and reflecting in a way you haven’t allowed yourself to before. 

“Each song fits into this section of my early twenties through mid twenties of growing up and reflecting on all the things that I fucked up. This whole project for me is kind of like feeling like this best version of myself that I want to be is standing right next to me but I can’t make them connect and being frustrated with myself.”

For OSTON, the six songs on Melancholia each play a pivotal role in conveying the EP’s story. While working through the creative process behind the project, OSTON explains that each song “radiated” a certain color to her, further helping her to recognize the emotions she unpacks through her music.

“When I was writing each of these songs that I knew I wanted to have on the project I feel like each song was radiating some sort of color that tied into the emotion that I was feeling that time. “What’s His Face” was like red for anger, “Hard to Love” was like pink and lusty, and “20 Nothing” was like blue for deep sadness and regret.”

Not stopping at just the individual songs, OSTON further pushes the story of her EP through the cover art and visuals. The warm orange aura surrounding OSTON, juxtaposing the almost tangy blue introduced through her sweater offers a peek into the bittersweet, distressed nature of her current state. 

“I think it ended up being so perfect, which is hilarious, because that photo was a complete accident. I was looking through all the photos from the shoot and there was a test shot in the batch of photos that my photographer, Whitney [Otte], took, and I saw it and was like, this is everything I was trying to say exactly.”

For OSTON, music is about more than the creative process or recognition, but is also about her fans. Currently receiving streams from over 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone, OSTON has built up a devoted fan base through her years as an artist that inspires her to continue going as an artist. 

“It's something I never really imagined, like having people that are always there to show up for you. It feels like I can't even put words to it, like it doesn't even feel real. These people are literally my family, my friends, and I'm really lucky to have that as an artist.”

OSTON’s connection with her fans especially shines through during her live performances. Whether opening for artists such as JORDY and The Greeting Committee, or headlining her own show, OSTON’s raw energy captivates the audience, creating an unforgettable experience for all parties involved. 

“You see the numbers of people streaming your music, but it doesn't feel real, it's just numbers on a page. The second you get in front of an audience and you have people singing the lyrics back to you and crying with their faces on the jumbotron it really hits you.”

Having performed at festivals such as Lollapalooza, touring with other artists, and headlining her own show for the first time on September 13th, OSTON’s history with performing displays her clear passion for what she does. Though she looks forward to each performance, OSTON explains the anxiety the accompanies performing live, especially on her own. 

“It’s so rewarding to perform. It’s one thing sitting in your house, not talking to anyone, not seeing the sun, sitting and writing music all day hoping that people hear it, and it's another thing to see people screaming along to your lyrics. I know that my shows will be kickass because I love performing and I like to bring the heat every time, but it's also terrifying because you know there's also the chance you could play a show and no one could show up, you’re kind of just taking a gamble.”

(Photo by Nathalie Benshumel)

Even ignoring the deep lyrics, intentional visuals, and curated performances, OSTON’s natural authenticity is apparent simply within the composition of the instrumentals and production backing that sew her songs together. Working with her boyfriend and producer, Drew Polovick, since after the release of her debut project, OSTON understands the importance of pushing her artistic vision through each step of creating a song.

“I kind of hate the production process. Sitting through the entire process till the end of the song is painful for me and it’s hard to get focused on it and want to do it, but I will never put out a song that I'm not in the room for its production. I want to be there and give my thoughts and equally produce the song, even though I don’t have the computer skills to do it. All of those parts are so important to me.”

OSTON’s ability to recognize her strengths and weaknesses in the music industry tied in with her resilience of staying involved and eager to learn is part of what makes her so special as an artist. Since moving to Las Angeles, California, originally from Park City, Utah, OSTON explains how the creative-hustle environment of her city influences her music and aids in her artistic development.

“I think the environment of being a songwriter is definitely a big factor in the overall process of making music. When I do writing camps, for example, with my friends and we go in the middle of nature we can kind of just breathe, I feel a lot less pressure, and I feel like I am able to tap into more of  that creative brain. Versus when doing everyday sessions with people whose names everyone knows, that always feels a lot more intimidating. It’s like, okay I'm here to do a job. I feel like being in L.A. has pushed me to become such a better songwriter, and to work way harder.” 

Along with her working environment, OSTON’s music is also inspired and influenced by those she looks up to. OSTON has mastered the act of plucking insight from her artistic inspirations, including Julia Michaels, Mitski, and Tame Impala, and using those moments of inspiration to push herself to appear transparent and true within her lyrics.

“My goal is letting people know, kind of in the same way that Julia did for me, that you're not alone in feeling how you feel, and if other people aren't gonna talk about it super transparently, then I will.”

At the end of the day, OSTON understands that the core of her career as an artist is her. The task of marketing oneself as a brand is almost dehumanizing, taking the wide range of experiences, projects, and beliefs that make up a person and condensing them into an elevator pitch is one that OSTON admits she hasn’t yet mastered, but is a process she plans to further explore as she continues music. 

“I hate that I don't have an off the bat answer to who I am as an artist yet. I make pop music. I am a dork. I don’t like sweets, I like savory things. I love beans- it’s important to know that. I love being blatantly honest, and I just want people to gain something from my music. That’s me I guess—that’s OSTON.” 

OSTON encourages first time listeners to take a chance on the three songs she feels best summarize her discography: “Hard to Love,” “Mouthwash,” and “last time pt. ii.”